Puzzle



(No Model.)

W. E. WILGOX.

PUZZLE.

N0. 562,264. Patented June 16, 1896.-

A NOR/VH3.

AN DREW EGRAHAM. PHOIDLITHQWASHIN GTON. D C

' UNITE STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

\VALTER E. VILCOX, OF ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,264, dated June 16, 1896.

Application filed March 18, 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER E. WILoox, of Arkansas City, in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Improved Puzzle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a puzzle in which a teeter-bar is employed, together with three rolling objects, preferably marbles, the teeter-bar being provided with sundry openings, the puzzle consisting in so distributing the rolling objects or marbles on the teeter-bar as to balance the same. The rolling objects or marbles are adapted to represent the proverbial Three Blind Mice and are to be guided to proper positions on the teeter-bar.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

a and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

inwhich similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the puzzle; the cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the same taken at a central point and illustrating the teeter-bar without the balls thereon, yet in a horizontal position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the marbles or rolling objects as being placed in initial positions on the teeterbar. Fig. 4 is also a longitudinal central section, the rolling objects or marbles being shown as in their final position; and Fig. 5 is a transverse central section through the puzzle.

In carrying out the invention a box A is employed, which is preferably oblong, as illustrated, the said box comprising a base or bottom 10 and a marginal flange 11. The box is usually provided with a lid or cover 13, which ordinarily has a transparent pane 12 introduced therein, so that the interior of the box will be visible.

The teeter-bar 0, having its under face inclined in opposite directions from the center in an upward direction, is pivoted in the central portion of the box throughthe medium of a pivot-pin 13, which is supported in brackets 14, attached to the bottom of the box at Serial No. 583,725. (No model.)

each side of the bar. The upper surface of the bar has a continuous concaved surface 15, extending from end to end, and the said concaved face of the teeter-bar is provided with a circular recess 16 at one end, a second circular recess 17 at its center, and a third circular recess 18 near its opposite end. Between the circular recess 16 and the central recess 17 two recesses 19 are produced, and these recesses are shallow at their inner ends; in fact, their bottom surfaces are inclined upwardly in direction of the central circular recess 17, so that an object placed therein will be prevented from rolling out in direction of the end circular recess 16, but may be readily moved in direction of the central circular recess 17. The circular recess 16 is at what may be termed the entrance of the teeterbar.

Three rolling objects 20, such as marbles or their equivalents, are employed in working out the puzzle. It is designed that the three marbles by the manipulation of the box shall be placed in such position on the teeter-bar as to balance the same, as shown in Fig. 4. In working out the puzzle the teeter-bar is depressed at the entrance end, or the end where the circular recess 16 is made, until it contacts with the bottom of the box, as shown in Fig. 3. By the manipulation of the box the marbles are rolled so that they will first occupy the first, three of the-recesses, the circular recess 16 and the two inclined recesses 19, as indicated in Fig. 3. By further manipulation of the box the balls or marbles are brought to the position shown in Fig. 4, in which it will be observed that one is at each end of the teeter-bar and the third at the center, balancing the same.

It will be seen that the under side of the bar is tapered from its center to its opposite ends, which are quite thin, so than when an end of the bar is in engagement with the bottom of the box it will not obstruct or prevent a ball from rolling thereon.

Having thus described my invention, I

thus providing thin ends, and three balls in the box adapted to roll on said bar and engage in depressions at the ends and center of the bar, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A puzzle consisting of an oblong box, a teeter-bar pivoted centrally Within the said box and having its upper surface longitudinally concaved, the concaved surface being provided with a circular recess at each end and a circular recess at its center, and inclined recesses located between the central and an end recess, the inclined recesses having' their depressed portions facing the aforesaid end circular recess, and rolling objects contained Within the box, adapted by the manipulation of the same to be placed in predoterlnined positions on the aforesaid teeterbar, namely, in the circular recesses of the same, as and for the purpose'specified.

\VALTER E. WILOOX. Vitnesses:

F. M. STRONG, 1[. \V. EARLOUGHER. 

